Interact Rotarian Chair Brigette Waterbury is pictured "setting the table" for our mutual "pot luck" lunch. President-Elect Judi Cooper came dressed as "a good" witch and brought sweet candies (luckily, NOT on a gingerbread house!!). Rotarians enjoying meeting the 25 plus students (50/50 boys and girls) also included Bev Shwert, Susan Lundy, Hugh Murphy, President Barbara Weldon, and guest speaker Jane Hall (Past President, Mill Valley Rotary and currently encouraging Youth Service Exchange). THIS WILL BE A GREAT YEAR...the Interact Club already has scheduled three work days at the San Pedro Elementary School organic garden (which is sponsored by Harbor Rotary in conjunction with Lori Davis of Sanzuma).

The crisp morning of September 19 saw Cindy Stameroff, Stan Green, Barbara Weldon, Susan Lundy, and Brigette Waterbury helping Sanzuma founder and organic garden expert Lori Davis transplant "a few" of her 2,500 seedlings that needed potting. Lori also showed us the entire garden (started in 2001 with a greenhouse donated by RC of Mission San Rafael) and "our plot" of land for the fruit trees. Aero fencing has donated the raw materials (fencing workers needed!) and soon the lot can be ready for more than the owl house...for all our fruit trees we are donating. Here are pictures with comments showing the garden project at San Pedro Elementary:

John Bottari discussed the CA Employers Advisory Council, an organization which he leads as California President this year. John covered information also available on their website, but personalized it with reasons an employer should join:

The California Employer Advisory Council (CEAC) is your connection to employment and workforce development information. The CEAC has been in partnership with the State of California Employment Development Department (EDD) since 1980. As the nonprofit, statewide umbrella organization for local Employer Advisory Councils (EACs), the CEAC:

Provides low-cost, timely seminars on topics such as employment law, workforce development, and human resource practices through the local EACs.

Works with the EDD to promote regulations, policies, and procedures that are business friendly.

Provides links between employers, EACs, and the EDD at the local and state level.

Then, Daisy Batten spoke of Diversity awareness. Daisy is active in her college's diversity program and discussed how easy it is to judge people by first initial impressions based upon skin color, build, ethnicity, or other factors that blind people with stereotypical judgments. Daisy presented a very timely "refresher course" for all of us to BE AWARE of diversity.

Marin Food Bank uses Harbor Rotarian's help!

Stan Green and Barbara Weldon are shown lifting a box of food packed at Saturday's (Aug 18) Marin and San Francisco Food Bank event. Stan was there in the morning representing Harbor Rotary and Barbara was there in the afternoon. Sunday, Harbor Rotarians will be at the Bocce Ball event for Rotary. Busy, Busy August!

I think I've shared that there is a ShelterBox Ambassador canoeing the length of the Mississippi River in hopes of raising over $250,000. In addition he can win another $50,000. Please see below, vote daily if you can, and share with friends. I'll provide details tomorrow and let you know how to sponsor a mile (or more) if you'd like to.

Great news! Because of his paddle expedition down the Mississippi, ShelterBox volunteer Erik Elsea has been nominated for the Eagle Rare Life Award. The $50,000 prize will go to the winner’s charity of choice!

The top five finalists to receive the most votes in each category will be considered for a category prize of $5,000. The judges will then evaluate the top 10 nominees across all categories to determine the winner of the Eagle Rare Life Award and the $50,000 Grand Prize, which will be donated to the charity or cause of the winner’s choice.

July 25th was GRADUATION DAY for the 3-8 yr olds in the Canal area who learned water safety and how to float and beginning swimming at San Rafael High School. We enjoyed the celebration and enjoyed the visiting afterwards!

Today "What's Happening" calendars guru, John Benus, gave us tips about healthy living. A brief summary in no particular order: 1. toothpaste is poison (read the label) so rinse three times 2. Four grams of sugar - 1 teaspoon, so one quart of low-fat yogurt is 15 teaspoons of sugar. 3. Use soap to shave not areosol spray cans, then use aloe vera gel on your face, legs, etc. 4. Don't drink milk. 5. Chew well so your stomach can actually digest the food. 6. Ignore the "3 square meals a day" idea...eat the largest meal in the middle of the day. 7. Avoid gluten and avoid meat (chicken or fish okay but not red meat. If you must eat red meat to survive, eat grass fed organic red meat). 8. Bike, jog, hike..and if you walk, make sure you are walking at 3 mph. Do so daily. Good ideas for us all and that was just a quick sampling of all the data he presented.

January 29, 2018, the San Rafael High School Interact members once again worked to cook and serve the homeless. Showing up to help with clean up were our own two members, President-Elect Barbara Weldon (on the right) and President-Elect Nominee Judi Cooper (on the left). THANKS, kids!